Military Naturalization Statistics

U.S. service members, veterans, and their families may be eligible for certain immigration benefits in recognition of their important sacrifices. Specifically, veterans and current service members may be eligible to become U.S. citizens through naturalization under special provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). These provisions reduce or eliminate certain general requirements for naturalization, including the requirements for the applicant to have resided in and been physically present in the United States for a specific period of time before naturalizing.¹

Since 2002, we have naturalized more than 158,000 members of the U.S. military, both at home and abroad. Naturalization ceremonies have taken place in more than 30 countries from Albania to the United Arab Emirates.² In the last five years (fiscal years 2018 – 2022), we have naturalized more than 33,000 service members. In FY 2022, we naturalized more than 10,600 service members, an almost 21% increase from the previous year. Authorization for the Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest (MAVNI) (PDF) program expired on Sept. 30, 2017, contributing to a decrease in military naturalizations. The MAVNI program, authorized by the Department of Defense in 2008, allowed certain individuals who were not U.S. citizens, nationals, or lawful permanent residents to enlist if they had skills considered vital to the national interest.

Approvals by Fiscal Year (2018 – 2022)

Bar graph 2018 - 4680, 2019 - 4360, 2020 - 4570, 2021 - 8880, 2022 - 10640

Countries of Birth

Service members born in the Philippines, Jamaica, Mexico, Nigeria, and China—the top five countries of birth among those naturalized—comprised 38% of the naturalizations since FY 2018. The next five countries of birth— South Korea, Ghana, Haiti, India, and Cameroon—comprised an additional 17% of military naturalizations from FY 2018 to FY 2022.

Top Five Countries of Birth (FY 2018 – FY 2022)

Graphic showing percentages , Mexico - 7.6, Jamaica - 8.7, Nigeria - 6.2, Philippines - 10.4, China - 5.5

Age

Half of all service members were between 22 and 30 years old when they naturalized. The median age of all service members who naturalized between FY 2018 to FY 2022 was 27 years old. More than 16% were 21 and under when they naturalized. Almost 6% were older than 40 when they naturalized.

Age at Naturalization (FY 2018 – FY 2022)

Graphic showing ages and percentages. 17 and 18 - 0.7, 19 to 21 - 16, 22 to 25 - 25.2, 26 to 30 - 25.5, 31 to 35 - 19.7, 36 to 40 - 7.2, 41 and above - 5.8

Gender

Men comprised 74% of all service members naturalized between FY 2018 and FY 2022. The proportion of male and female service members naturalized remained fairly consistent across years with females slightly increasing since FY 2020.

Gender at Naturalization (FY 2018 – FY 2022)

Graphic showing gender by percentage, 26 for women and 74 for men

Branch of Service

Service members from the Army (including National Guard and Reserves) comprised about two-thirds (63%) of all military naturalizations from FY 2018 to FY 2022. Service members from the Coast Guard comprised less than 1% of military naturalizations from FY 2018 to FY 2022.³

Branch of Military at Naturalization (FY 2018 – FY 2022)

Graphic showing percentages by service branch, Army - 63.3, Navy - 17.3, Air Force - 7.8, Marines - 5.9, , Coast Guard - 0.3

Tables

Data Table 1: Approved Military Naturalizations by Fiscal Year (2018-2022) and Top 10 Countries
Country of Birth	FY18	FY19	FY20	FY21	FY22	Total
Philippines	470	410	460	940	1,190	3,450
Jamaica	320	210	380	880	1,080	2,870
Mexico	440	340	310	630	770	2,500
Nigeria	220	180	340	630	680	2,040
China	290	380	370	370	420	1,820
South Korea	250	510	280	260	300	1,600
Ghana	150	80	230	420	430	1,300
Haiti	100	100	110	260	460	1,020
India	260	230	110	120	170	890
Cameroon	80	60	130	280	340	880
Others	2,130	1,870	1,840	4,020	4,820	14,690
Total	4,680	4,360	4,570	8,800	10,640	33,050

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 4 and ELIS. Data as of October 2022.

Notes: Due to rounding, the totals may not sum.

Data Table 2: Approved Military Naturalizations by Fiscal Year (2018-2022) and Age at Naturalization
Age at Naturalization	FY18	FY19	FY20	FY21	FY22	Total
17 and 18 years old	110	10	0	20	100	250
19-21 years old	750	620	520	1,390	2,000	5,280
22-25 years old	1,030	1,070	1,050	2,210	2,940	8,310
26-30 years old	1,210	1,220	1,270	2,280	2,440	8,420
31-35 years old	860	730	1,110	1,860	1,940	6,500
36-40 years old	280	260	360	650	820	2,360
41+ years old	430	440	260	400	400	1,930
Total	4,680	4,360	4,570	8,800	10,640	33,050

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 4 and ELIS. Data as of October 2022.

Notes: Due to rounding, the totals may not sum.

Data Table 3: Approved Military Naturalizations by Fiscal Year and Gender (2018-2022)
Gender	FY18	FY19	FY20	FY21	FY22	Total
Men	3,570	3,380	3,450	6,430	7,700	24,530
Women	1,120	970	1,120	2,370	2,930	8,510
Total	4,680	4,360	4,570	8,800	10,640	33,050

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 4 and ELIS. Data as of October 2022.

Notes: Due to rounding, the totals may not sum.

Data Table 4: Approved Military Naturalizations by Fiscal Year (2017-2021) and Service Branch
Service Branch	FY18	FY19	FY20	FY21	FY22	Total
Air Force	280	180	430	860	840	2,580
Army	2,720	3,030	2,980	5,480	6,690	20,910
Coast Guard	20	20	20	20	20	110
Marines	220	240	220	520	750	1,940
Navy	420	450	830	1,810	2,220	5,730
Unknown	1,030	440	90	100	120	1,770
Total	4,680	4,360	4,570	8,800	10,640	33,050

Source: USCIS, CLAIMS 4 and ELIS. Data as of October 2022.

Notes: Military branches include the Reserves and National Guard; for example, the Army includes both the Army Reserves and the Army National Guard. Due to rounding, the totals may not sum.

¹ Read more information on the naturalization process and eligibility for service members, veterans, and their families on our website.

²Executive Order 13269 (PDF), signed on July 3, 2002, designated the War on Terrorism (beginning on Sept. 11, 2001) as a period in which the armed forces of the United States were engaged in armed conflict with a hostile foreign force for the purposes of section 329 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). As a result, those who served honorably in the armed forces on or after Sept. 11, 2001, may be eligible for naturalization in accordance with the statutory exceptions to the naturalization requirements provided in INA 329.

³ About 5% of naturalizations did not list a service branch in our system.

Last Reviewed/Updated:

11/10/2022